Cultivating for a hundred lifetimes to ascension

From the first month of embarking on the journey, Shi Yao Ancestor intentionally or unintentionally approached Zhao Sheng, always seeking him out every once in a while, whether for exchanging Taoist Skills or offering guidance. His attitude was very cordial and friendly.

After half a year, Zhao Sheng couldn't handle it anymore and had to temporarily avoid this person under the pretense of closed-door cultivation.

However, his efforts were destined to be in vain.

Let's not forget, Zhao Sheng was not the only one on this ship; there were also Zhao Wanong, Zhao Gujiu, Zhao Zhenhai, and many other Zhao Clan Members.

With Shi Yao Ancestor's Eye Power, it wouldn't be difficult to discover the unusual aspects of these people and, with a little trickery, easily learn the identities and backgrounds of everyone from them.

Did Zhao Sheng know he couldn't keep it hidden? Of course, he knew! That's why he announced a closed-door retreat.

The whole matter seemed so transparent, yet Shi Yao Ancestor just wouldn't pierce the veil directly.

Seeing this, Zhao Sheng was happy to pretend to be "confused".

Yet, their tacit approach left observers like Yama Ancestor somewhat baffled.

Another person who couldn't quite grasp the situation was Zhao Family's Ninth Ancestor Zhao Zhenhai.

Two months ago, Zhao Zhenhai suddenly encountered the grey-robed old man. After a brief exchange, cold sweat ran down his back, feeling terrified and alarmed.

It was only after the event that Zhao Zhenhai learned from Zhao Sheng about the identity of the grey-robed old man, realizing that the other person was a Divinity Transformation True Monarch!

Fortunately, the other party's attitude was friendly and did not show any hostility towards the Zhao Clan Members.

After Zhao Sheng retreated, Zhao Zhenhai took on the heavy responsibilities, enforcing stricter discipline on the clan members' behavior while ordering everyone to cultivate in seclusion, avoiding any contact with outsiders.

One year,

Two years,

Three years,

...

To Zhao Sheng's surprise, Shi Yao Ancestor did not seem eager to "reveal the cards".

Not only did he reside on the ship long-term, but every half year he would perform a solemn divination.

Zhao Sheng was not completely ignorant about divination calculations; he had sneakily observed this person's divination process, knowing he used turtle divination combined with Six-Yao Yin-Yang Divine Calculation.

But he couldn't decipher the divination symbols at all; it seemed shrouded in multiple layers of mysterious veils, everything appearing extremely vague and distorted.

Shi Yao Ancestor seemed oblivious to Zhao Sheng's spying, openly casting the hexagrams every time, with the joy on his face growing more evident each time.

After pondering for a long time upon returning, a spark of insight flashed in Zhao Sheng's mind, suddenly linking the divination results with distance.

It seemed that as the Black Ship flew further away, the person's divination results became increasingly precise, and the hexagrams more closely aligned with his Heart Intent.

Over time, Zhao Sheng noticed a pattern: the person had likely long since seen through everything, just waiting for him to reveal his cards on his own.

Thus, in the fifth year of flying beyond realms, as the Black Ship was about to reach the Mingye Realm, Zhao Sheng dispelled all Illusion Techniques and revealed his true face, proactively visiting Shi Yao Ancestor.

The reason he did this was, of course, because of the goodwill the other party displayed from start to finish.

That day, Zhao Sheng walked frankly into the hall and met the principal figure.

Shi Yao Ancestor seemed to have anticipated this, showing no surprise at his handsome appearance, and warmly smiled, "Mr. Zhao, please come in and sit! I've been waiting for a long time!"

Zhao Sheng was somewhat taken aback, walking confidently forward, sitting on the opposite cushion, and similarly smiled, "The Ancestor is truly patient! I am humbled."

He continued, "Now is also a good time to formally introduce myself to the Ancestor. My name is Zhao Qiongtian, from the Southern Sky Zhao Family. The reason I infiltrated the Two Realms is because I bear an important mission."

Shi Yao Ancestor shook his head, "No, no, though you carry the bloodline of the Zhao family, you are also a local Human Clan member of the Ghost God Realm. Additionally, I have little faith in the Zhao Family's blood pandemic plan. The Blood God Position is too high, and its power too strong. If it were so easy to defeat, how could the Two Realms Heavenly Dao have endured constant devastation for tens of thousands of years! Wouldn't that make the struggle of the sages from generations of True Monarchs a complete joke?"

The underlying implication being that the Southern Sky Zhao Family could not possibly succeed in something that countless Divinity Transformation True Monarchs in the Two Realms have been unable to achieve for tens of thousands of years.

Zhao Sheng's gaze flickered, but he confidently countered, "If the Ancestor had no faith in this matter, we wouldn't be sitting here today. Since I have been honest and open, I hope the senior can also be a bit more candid."

"Hehe! Would the Zhao Family entrust you with this matter? Mr. Zhao's ability to discern worldly matters is indeed remarkable," Shi Yao Ancestor praised him first.

Then nodded in acknowledgment, "Indeed! I have consecutively divined nine times, and each hexagram was astonishingly consistent. All revealed a slight variance amid despair, and this variance is both a chance at life and hope."

Seeing Zhao Sheng's face light up with joy, the person's expression suddenly darkened, speaking coldly, "Mr. Zhao, do not rejoice prematurely. Variance does not equate to success. I dare to assert that the probability of this matter succeeding is at most one-tenth. That's considering Mr. Zhao's uniquely rare fate and the increasingly chaotic and frenzied Divine Intent of the Blood God."

Zhao Sheng, despite facing setbacks, showed no sign of discouragement. Instead, he detected the unspoken meaning in the other's words and immediately said, "In recent centuries, the Blood God's Son has acted repeatedly! Could it be that because the Blood God is about to completely lose consciousness, it is madly devouring souls? If that's true, the Two Realms are likely to face an unprecedented catastrophic disaster, and by then, high-level figures like the senior would be the primary target for the Blood God's Son to hunt."

"Alas, Mr. Zhao knows too much. The Blood God, like an overwhelming sky, suffocates all life in the Two Realms. Not only myself, but many Fellow Daoist are also living in constant fear, worried about becoming a meal for the Blood God one day. Therefore, after divining the only variance, I came without hesitation.

Frankly, there's no one in this world who wishes more than I do for Mr. Zhao's plan to succeed in the end! It's just a pity that the chance of success is slim."

Zhao Sheng still firmly said, "Man proposes, Heaven disposes! I believe that man can conquer Heaven. If there was only a ten percent chance before, now with the Ancestor and more senior True Monarchs' assistance, I believe the success rate must significantly increase, to at least thirty percent possible."

"Mr. Zhao thinks very well, but unfortunately, people like myself cannot take action openly, nor can we participate in secret. The reasons, Mr. Zhao might understand with some thought."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Sheng slowly furrowed his brow, soon appearing to think and nodding, "I was mistaken. A Divinity Transformation True Monarch like the senior is likely the primary target of the Blood God's attention. As long as you are within the realm, even your slightest moves cannot escape the Blood God's surveillance."

"Though it sounds somewhat exaggerated, it's not far from the truth. People like myself still have a bit of freedom, able to make some small secretive moves usually. But making any significant moves would definitely not escape the Blood God Heavenly Dao's watch."

"Sigh, what a pity!" Zhao Sheng sighed upon hearing this.

"However, I can secretly hint to other Fellow Daoist, urging them not to act against you, and suppressing their forces' movements in secret. We will strive to buy you some time, allowing your endeavor to proceed a bit more smoothly," Shi Yao Ancestor stated.

Zhao Sheng felt greatly pleased in his heart, "That's excellent! Then I will trouble the senior to make a trip!"

"It's a trivial matter not worth mentioning! But I have one curiosity, and I hope Mr. Zhao will answer frankly."

"Please, senior," Zhao Sheng was stirred, immediately agreed to it.

Shi Yao Ancestor, eyes filled with inquiry, asked extremely seriously, "Over the past five years, I've divined over a hundred times. The result was finding that my only chance of survival rests upon Mr. Zhao. May I know your insight on how I might be connected to this?"

Hmm?!

Zhao Sheng, upon hearing this, fell into a moment of contemplation.

Seeing this, Shi Yao Ancestor couldn't help but feel expectant, his expression progressively dignified.

After a few moments of pondering, Zhao Sheng suddenly thought of something and couldn't help but think, "If my guess is correct, this 'chance of survival' might refer to the Cross-border Transmission Array."

If Shi Yao Ancestor could successfully transmit to the Otherworld, his chances of survival would undoubtedly increase greatly.

Even if this person met their end afterward, their Divine Soul would still return to the Netherworld, also becoming devoured by the Blood God.

But viewed from another angle, if this person escaped the Blood God's hunting ground, they would surely live longer than other local True Monarchs.

Sometimes living longer often means a greater variance.